Lock for the adjustable backs of loose-leafed ledgers



a No. 749,560. PATENTED JAN. 12,1904.

I A. D. HULQUIST. LOOK FOR THE ADJUSTABLE BACKS 0F LOOSE LEAFED LEDGBRS,

ACCOUNT BOOKS, &0.

APPLICATION FILED my 28, 19oa.

no MODEL.

m: uunms PETERS comucmufnu. WASHINGTON. 04 c.

UNITED I STATES Patented January 12, 1904.

PATENT FF ANDREW D. HULQIIIST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J. S. MCDONALD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOCK FOR THE ADJUSTABLE BACKS 0F LOO SE-LEAFED LEDGERS, ACCOUNT-BOOKS, 8L0.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 749,560, dated J anuary 12, 1904.

Application filed May 28, 1903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW D. HULQUIST,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Illinois, have invented certain new and use- .ful Improvements in Locks for the Adjustable Backs of Loose-Leafed Ledgers, Account- Books, Record-Books, Files, &c., of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and economically-constructed lock the manufacture of which dispenses with many mechanical operations now indulged in by reason of the employment of the commercial forms of the material in making them and which automatically locks and unlocks by a simple manipulation of the book in connection with which they are used. This I accomplish by the means hereinafter described, and as particularly pointed out in' the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of one of said locks separate from the bookcovers in connection with which they are designed to be used. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section showing the ends of the parts thereof secured to the clamping-strips of the E 1 backs of said books and in locked relation.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, only reversed, and

showing the parts thereof unlocked. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the bolt, showing the unsecured end thereof in section.

Referring to the drawings, A and B repre sent the flat transverse strips of metal or clamping-plates of the backs of books between whose cover (which are hinged thereto) re-- movable sheets or pages are secured.

My improved lock-consists of a bolt O, projecting from one of these plates, and a tube 1,4

I of a ball E or similar gravity-controlled de- ,1 vice.

a countersunk opening in said plate and is i tapped longitudinally and centrally into the adjacent end of the bolt. This screw enters Fig. 5 is a dee tail view of a modification of the bolt.

The bolt O is connected to plate A by; means of a screw 0, which is passed through Serial No. 159,111. (No model.)

i the bolt far enough to hold it in its proper relative position to the sectional tube, and yet lets it remain sufficiently loose, so that by manipulating said screw. with a screw-driver or other suitable device the bolt can be rotated. The end of the bolt opposite plateA is slightly inereasedin diameter to form a head 6, the shoulder of which comes in contact with the marginal edges of the restricted opening in the closed unsecured end a of the tube and prevents the withdrawal of said bolt from the same. The head 6 of the bolt is provided with a series of longitudinally-disposed pockets d d therein, which are shallowest at the ends thereof nearest the extremity of the bolt and gradually increase in depth as they extend toward their opposite ends. I prefer to make these pockets oblique to the axis of the bolt and also to provide two or more of the same located at equal distances apart, although this is not essential, as one only could be used. Seated in said pockets d are the steel balls E or their equivalents, and when the bolt is in the position shown inFig. 2 these balls gravitate down toward the lower ends of the pockets and wedge between the inner surfacesof the tube D and said bolt and securely lock it against the further withdrawal movement of the bolt. In'order to prevent the balls from slipping when the bolt is locked, I have provided the inner circumference ofsaid tube with circumferential orspiral grooves a, with which said balls engage. When the position of the parts of the lock are reversed, as shown in Fig. 8.. of the drawings, the balls gravitate down into the deepest part of the pockets of the bolt and release the tube, so that the clamping-plates A and B may be drawn farther apart. Instead of the tube having the spiralgroove screw-threaded on its inner circumference it may be roughened on the inside in such manner. as to afford lodgment for the balls when they are moved to the shallower part of the pockets and wedge against the tube.

In Fig. 5 a modified construction of the bolt G is shown, which consists of reducing the circumference of the unsecured end of the bolt and forming the resulting extension'into a' truncated cone-shaped head g, the apex of which is connected to the end of the bolt and the base of which is slightly greater in diameter than the body of the bolt G. The conical sides of this head 9 are provided with the longitudinally-elongated pockets h h, which are preferably of the same depth throughout. The operation of the lock having the form of bolt shown in this modification is the same as that shown in the first four figures of the drawings.

If desired, the covers which, as shown in the drawings, are attached to clamping-plates A andB may be dispensed with andthe lock with the clamping-plates be used for any purpose for which their use may be desirable.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. A look comprising clamping-plates; arotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of which is uneven; and an independent gravity'controlled device interposed between said bolt and tube for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when in the reverse position.

2. A look comprisingclamping-plates; arotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates and provided with a longitudinally-disposed pocket in its unsecured end; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of which is uneven; and an independent *gravity-controlled ball seated in said pocket for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when in the reverse position.

, 3. A lock comprising clamping-plates; a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one 1 of said plates and provided with a longitudinally-disposed pocket in its unsecured end which increases in depth as it extends from the extremity of said bolt; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of which is uneven; and an independent gravity-controlled trolled ball seated in said pocket for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when in the reverse position.

5. A look comprising clamping-plates; a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates and provided with a longitudinally-disposed pocket in its unsecured end arranged oblique to the axis of said bolt and increasing in depth as it extends from the adjacent extremity of said bolt; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of which is uneven; and an independent gravity-controlled ball seated in said pocket for automatically locking the same together when in one posithe inner wall of which is circumferentially grooved; and an independent gravity-controlled device interposed-between said bolt and tube for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when in the reverse position.

- 7 A-loc'k comprising clamping-plates; a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of which is provided with a spiral groove; and an independent gravity-controlled device interposed between said bolt and tube for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when in the reverse position.

8. A lock comprising clamping-plates; a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates and provided with a longitudinally-disposed pocket in its unsecured end; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of which is provided with a spiral groove; and an independent gravity-controlled ball seated in said pocket for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when in the reverse position.

9. Alock comprising clamping-plates; a r0- tatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates and provided with a longitudinally-disposed pocket in its unsecured end which increases in depth as it extends from the adjacent extremity of said bolt; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of which is provided with'a spiral groove; and an independent gravity-controlled ball seated in said pocket for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when in the reverse position.

10. A lock comprising clamping-plates; a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from ITO one of said plates and provided with a longi; tudinally-disposed pocket in its unsecured end i arranged oblique to the axis of said bolt; a.

tube secured to the other plate into which said 5 bolt enters, the surface of the inner wall of (which is provided with a spiral groove, and h an independent gravity-controlled ball seated in said pocket for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when inthe reverse position.

i i 11. A lockcomprising clamping-plates; a rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates and provided with a longitudinally-disposed pocket in its unsecured end 5 arranged oblique to the axis of said bolt and 3 increasing in depth as it extends from the adjacent extremity to said bolt; a tube secured to the other plate into which said bolt enters,

thesurface of the inner wall of which is pro- 9 vided with a spiral groove; and an independent gravity controlled ball seated in said pocket for automatically locking the same together when in one position and unlocking them when inthe reverse position.

5' 12. A lock comprising clamping-plates; a

rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from a one of said plates, and having its unsecured 1 j end increased in diameterand forming a head having an elongated pocket therein; a tube se 3 cured to the other plate having a restricted opening in its unsecured end through which i i the body of said bolt passes into the tube; and

a bolt intothe end of which said screw is tapped a ball seated in said pocket, as and for the purposes setforth.

13. A look comprising clamping-plates; a 35 rotatable bolt secured to and projecting from one of said plates, and having its unsecured end increased in diameter and forming a head having an elongated pocket therein arranged oblique to the axis of the bolt and increasing 4 in depth as it extends from'the extremity of the bolt; a tube secured to the other plate having a restricted opening in its unsecured end through which the body of said bolt passes into the tube; and a ball seated in said pocket, as and for the purposes set forth, a

14. A look comprising clamping-plates one s of which has a countersunk opening therein; a

headed screw extending through said opening;

a i 5 and which has a head of increased diameter at its other end that has an'elongated pocket therein; A a tube secured to the other plate having a restricted opening in its unsecured end through for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day ofMay, 1903.

ANDREW D. HULQUIST. Witnesses: m i j l V E. KQLEMDY,

E. W. HART. 

